THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS

Mr. Craig Bowers

Why Contract with NASA?

•  International leader: –  Space Exploration –  Earth and Space Science –  Aeronautics –  Space Technology

• STEM Education Mission

Why Contract with NASA? • We are a big spender

–  In 2013 we spent $870.7M with Educational Institutions

–  HBCU/MSIs received $83.4M –  Awarded dollars

•  95% Research •  5 % STEM

We Want To Do Better • Advantages

–  Wide variety of research –  BAA type instruments create great

proposal flexibility –  Proximity –  STEM

More Advantages –  NASA Management Support –  Agency wide 1% HBCU Prime and

Subcontract Goal –  Unique Mentor – Protégé Program –  Online Solicitation and Proposal

Process –  Existing Relationships with 69

HBCU/MSIs

Some Drawbacks –  No set-aside or sole source

authority beyond STEM Education program (MUREP).

–  Administrative Issues –  Investment

Research Opportunity Process –  Three main types

• NASA Research Announcement (NRA) Can result in Grants, Cooperative Agreements or a Contract

• Announcements of Opportunity(AO) Normally Results in a Contract

• Cooperative Agreement Notice (CANs) Like Grant w/ significant NASA participation

–  All are types of Broad Agency Announcements

–  Selection through Peer Review Process

Research Opportunity Process

–  All are posted on NSPIRES Site –  All proposals reviewed –  Most promising selected for award

based on announcement criteria –  Contracting officer or Grants

Officer will make the final award

Research Opportunity Tips –  Review all the documents. –  Pay close attention to:

• Selection criteria: normally relevance, intrinsic merit, & cost. Roughly of equal value

• POCs – Program Officer for Technical Questions – Award Officer for Business Questions

• Background and vision material • Omnibus Announcements/Calls

More Tips –  Use NSPIRES –  Become familiar with the NASA

NRA and CANs Guidebook –  Watch for Amendments –  Be on time

Grants vs. Contract –  Grants are more general and are for a

public purpose –  Contracts are more detailed and

create specific responsibilities on all parties.

–  Cooperative agreement is like a grant but has significant government involvement

–  Government makes final call on award instrument choice

NSPIRES –  Online method to find

announcements –  Offers notice capability –  Offers collaboration site for you and

your partners –  Allows you to build your proposal

online –  Permits online proposal submission

NSPIRES

Secondary Markets –  Work with our Prime Contractors

• 1% goal • Announcements on FedBizOpps (FBO) • Award announcements on FBO • Network

–  Mentor-Protégé possibilities –  SBIR – Partnership possibilities –  STTR – 30% Educational institution

partnership requirement

References - NSPIRES - http://nspires.nasaprs.com - FedBizOpps – www.fbo.gov - NASA OSBP - http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ -  NASA SBIR/STTR http://sbir.nasa.gov/ -  SBIR Matchmaker site -

http://www.zyn.com/sbir/partnering/nasa.htm

-  NASA Guidebook for Proposers - http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/nraguidebook/

National Aeronautics and Spaco Administration •